Mancini rules out Balotelli sale after striker earns City win

Roberto Mancini insisted that Manchester City have no intention of selling Mario Balotelli in the January transfer window after the Italian made the breakthrough against Wigan.

Mancini kept faith with Balotelli when he took off Sergio Aguero in the 68th minute, and the Italian responded immediately by scoring his first Premier League goal of the season less than 60 seconds later.

Substitute James Milner ensured that City kept pace with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League with a spectacular second goal to seal a 2-0 victory.

Main man: Mario Balotelli put Manchester City in front against Wigan

Asked if City will allow Balotelli to leave next month, Mancini said: 'No it's not true. It's his first goal this season and I hope he can improve after this game.

'We thought of bring Mario off but we thought he was fresher than Aguero.

'We have four top strikers but we've had some difficulty scoring goals like we did last season. I hope we can move on from this. The season is very long, and if a lot of teams are playing in the Champions League in February it can change everything.

'We are at the top with United at the moment but I think Chelsea can fight for the title as well.'

Wigan can count themselves unlucky not to have taken anything out of the game. They have now lost all six games against City since Mancini took over, failing to score a single goal.

Keeping pace: City beat Wigan to stay in touch with Manchester United

They had their chances on this occasion, not least when Arouna Kone headed wide in the second half when James McCarthy's cross found him unmarked 10 yards from goal.

Roberto Martinez admitted that it was the turning point of the game.

'We edged the game for 60 minutes,' said Martinez. 'We were so good off the ball and frustrated City. We kept them to one shot on target in the first half - we had 16 shots and they had one.

'In the end we couldn't be ourselves. We couldn't find a way to get that goal. We had a great chance and it goes up the other end and Mario gets a bit of luck on the rebound. Normally you get the ball going to a defender and get it cleared away.